The Sally-Anne test is considered a decisive (“litmus”) measure of theory of mind because it assesses children’s grasp that:

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about what the Sally-Anne test measures in terms of theory of mind, so we evaluate each option in turn.
Option 1: 'Others can act on beliefs that differ from reality.' This directly targets the core concept of theory of mind: understanding that another person can hold a false belief and act based on that belief. The Sally-Anne task specifically tests whether a child can predict another person’s behavior given a belief that is incorrect from the child’s own perspective.
Option 2: 'Others can have different sensory perceptions.' While people can have different sensory experiences, this option does not address belief reasoning or the crucial distinction between true and false beliefs that theory of mind concerns. It misses the key cognitive shift about mental states guiding action.
Option 3: 'Others can share emotional states through contagion.' Emotional contagion relates to understanding or mirroring emotions rather than attributing beliefs to others. It measures affective processes rather than the cognitive theory of mind about beliefs.
Option 4: 'Others’ desires may conflict with their own.' Although people’s desires can influence behavior and theory of mind interacts with desires, this option centers on desire conflicts rather than the critical ability to recognize that others can hold beliefs unlike reality. It does not capture the false-belief understanding the Sally-Anne test assesses.

The Sally-Anne test is considered a decisive (“litmus”) measure of theory of mind because it assesses children’s grasp that:

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